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Games for Windows Marketplace closing next week

Games for Windows Live is pretty much dead. While support for Microsoft's PC gaming service has waned over the years, the company has announced that it will no longer be possible to purchase games off the service.

Games for Windows Live is pretty much dead. While support for Microsoft's PC gaming service has waned over the years, the company has announced that it will no longer be possible to purchase games off the service.

On August 22, the PC Marketplace on Xbox.com will stop selling Games for Windows titles. As Microsoft points out, first-party games published by Microsoft "are no longer available for purchase from any marketplace." However, third-party games may be distributed on other services.

If you did purchase games through Games for Windows Live, you'll be able to redownload content through the client. However, in-game purchases and DLC support may be affected depending on the title. According to Xbox support, you'll have to contact specific publishers for more information.

If you have any remaining Microsoft Points, they'll be converted into local currency around the time of the next Xbox 360 system update. While you won't be able to use your credit on PC games, you'll be able to buy Xbox and Windows Phone 8 content.

Although the store is being closed, Microsoft told Eurogamer that they will continue "to support the Games for Windows Live platform."

"Although purchase functionality will be discontinued through this marketplace, the Games for Windows Live service will continue to operate as usual," Microsoft said. So while you won't be able to buy any new Games for Windows games, the ones that are still out there should remain functional.

Microsoft's PC gaming ambitions may have recently changed, as the company recently hired a Valve alum to make "Windows a great platform for gaming."